Brené Brown
Brené Brown is a Research Professor at the University of Houston, where she holds the Huffington Foundation Endowed Chair at the Graduate College of Social Work, and a Visiting Professor of Management at the University of Texas at Austin’s McCombs School of Business. She is a world-renowned author, speaker, and thought leader whose groundbreaking research focuses on courage, vulnerability, shame, empathy, and leadership. Brown is the author of six #1 New York Times bestselling books, translated into more than 30 languages, including Atlas of the Heart, Dare to Lead, Braving the Wilderness, Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection. She is also the host of two award-winning podcasts, Unlocking Us and Dare to Lead, where she explores leadership, creativity, mental health, and personal growth through conversations with global thought leaders. Her influential TED talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” is among the top five most-viewed TED talks of all time, with over 60 million views, cementing her status as one of the most impactful voices in modern leadership, personal development, and social science.
Brené Brown Professional Experience / Academic History
Professional Experience
-
Huffington Endowed Chair and Research Professor
-
Visiting Professor of Management
Academic History
-
Ph.D., Social Work
-
M.S., Social Work
-
B.S., Social Work
RESEARCH & THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Brené Brown rose to global prominence with her TEDx Houston talk, “The Power of Vulnerability,” which has become one of the most-watched TED talks of all time and helped introduce mainstream audiences to the importance of vulnerability, courage, and empathy.
Her research has profoundly shaped how individuals, leaders, educators, and organizations understand emotional intelligence, authenticity, resilience, and human connection.
Brown is widely respected for bridging rigorous academic research with practical, real-world application, translating complex psychological and social concepts into accessible insights that resonate across industries.
She became the first researcher to have a filmed lecture on Netflix, expanding the reach of academic thought leadership to a global audience, and later launched an HBO Max series inspired by her book Atlas of the Heart, further cementing her cultural impact.
Her influence spans education, business, healthcare, and popular culture, with her research widely applied in leadership development, organizational psychology, mental health, and personal growth.